Tūtaki Mai ki Ngā Kaitohutohu Wheako Ora Meet our Lived Experience Advisors

We currently have two Lived Experience Advisors whose job is to support connections with tāngata whaiora and lived experience communities and provide advice on all of the work of Te Hiringa Mahara. 

Saskia Ymker

Saskia Ymker (she/her) is Kaitohu Mātāmua Wheako Ora | Principal Advisor Lived Experience at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission. She is an enthusiastic advocate of the restorative power of being ourselves and has a passion for peer support and the power of lived experience to drive transformation. She joined the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission in 2024 and has held lived experience leadership, mentoring, and peer support roles prior to this.

Meryl Fraser

She/her/ia. Nō Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Manawa, Ngāpuhi, Ingarangi 

Ko Meryl Fraser (née White) ahau. I grew up in beautiful Te Whanganui a-Tara and now live down the road in Te Awakairangi. I joined Te Hiringa Mahara in June 2025 as Kaitohutohu Wheako Whānau Māori | Principal Advisor Whānau Māori Lived Experience. Previously I have worked in a variety of policy and operational roles across the health system, including at Te Aka Whai Ora | the Māori Health Authority, Te Whatu Ora | Health NZ, and Manatū Hauora | the Ministry of Health. Although I have an academic background in public health, I am primarily here at Te Hiringa Mahara because of my lived experience, particularly as a wahine Māori. Some of the things that are important to me are hauora Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, rongoā Māori, maternal mental health, the wellbeing of our takatāpui, queer and trans rangatahi, and people who struggle with substance harm and/or addiction.  

Contact

To contact Saskia and Meryl, please email kiaora@mhwc.govt.nz